Grocers and governments are vowing that B.C.’s food supply chain will stay strong, in the wake of landslides and highway collapses that have strained the province’s supply chain.

Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra told media at an afternoon news conference that the federal and provincial governments have a plan to ensure food security.

“It is a priority for us to ensure that Canadians who are currently stuck, or in the middle of this affected region, don’t have [food] shortages,” Alghabra said.

Highway 7 is partly cleared. That route has so far been open westbound for essential travel, and to assist people stranded in Hope to get to the Lower Mainland. Highway 1, between Hope and Boston Bar, is also open for emergency access. Travel north of Boston Bar remains closed.

Crews are working to remove debris on Highway 3, with that corridor expected to open at some point this weekend, for essential travel only.

Highway 99, between Pemberton and Lillooet, remains closed.

Significant damage has closed Highway 5 – better known as the Coquihalla Highway – and there is no official estimate for when that route could reopen.

Alghabra said that he hopes highways, and rail lines, reopen soon…read more.